Chapter 4
Seeing the revolution progress level rise, it looked like they had completed a mission successfully with the sponsorship money.
Etias’s life hearts hadn’t increased, but the fact they hadn’t dropped was already a relief.
With the relocation of the base, comfort level had gone up, so it probably wouldn’t decrease anytime soon.
Knock knock—
“Young Lady, may I come in?”
Just then, Heros’s knock sounded from outside.
I pulled the blanket back over me—it had been kicked to the side—and answered.
“Come in.”
Moments later, he entered and bowed politely before informing me of today’s schedule.
And he brought good news early in the morning.
“The High Priest has granted permission for your poorhouse establishment, Young Lady.”
A small smile tugged at my lips.
“He even said to tell you he’s counting on you. It makes me wonder why he denied it in the first place if he was going to act like that.”
Exactly. Why go through the trouble of rejecting it in the first place?
I smiled softly and stretched.
Then let’s begin another refreshing day.
Unfortunately, my bright mood didn’t last much longer.
Because Heros brought something I wasn’t thrilled to receive.
“And also, Young Lady, Viscount Philios Regalo asked me to deliver this to you.”
I was mid-stretch with both arms raised when I furrowed my brows and took the letter to read.
To my fiancée, Catrin.
Since you haven’t shown your face after the funeral of the Duke and Duchess—when you used to chase after my shadow every day—I cannot sleep out of concern.
It troubles me even more to hear that you’ve been rejecting the help of Count Padelmon Elemoer, who worries for you.
If you’re feeling well, would you find the time to visit the government office where I work?
I’d like to comfort you and discuss the new things we can do together.
If you reject this invitation as well, I shall personally visit your estate to offer my support.
Your beloved,
Philios Regalo.
…
Yes, Philios Regalo.
My dark past.
I had refused to see him ever since the funeral of the Duke and Duchess a few months ago, but he kept sending letters persistently like this.
By the way, the person who introduced me to this trash cart named Philios Regalo was none other than my uncle Padelmon, who’s after the inheritance of the Elemoer Dukedom.
He was a man black to the core.
Well, that needs a bit of complicated explanation too, but to summarize it briefly with what I recall from the original novel—
My uncle and my fiancé teamed up to squeeze everything they could from me, who had inherited a massive fortune.
If I hadn’t possessed Catrin and viewed the situation objectively, I would have lost everything and eventually even my life at their hands, unaware.
Just like how Catrin died in the original story after being betrayed by the nobles of the Emperor’s faction.
As I raised my hand and pressed between my brows like I had a headache, Heros spoke in a concerned voice.
“Shall I tell him that the Young Lady has not yet recovered emotionally?”
That excuse had already been used several times.
And more than anything—
“It’s not because I’m afraid of shit that I avoid it.”
I muttered with a frown on my face.
“…Young Lady?”
“It’s because it’s disgustingly annoying.”
If you reject this invitation as well, I shall personally visit your estate to offer my support.
“But he keeps pushing it, huh?”
I let out an irritated comment, raising my eyebrow, and Heros flinched slightly, lifting his gloved hand to cover his mouth.
I placed the crumpled letter on the desk and stood up.
“Get ready to go out, Heros.”
When I entered the government building in a lavish purple dress, many eyes turned toward me.
Well, it made sense—with looks so stunning they amazed even myself every time I saw them in the mirror.
However, true to my infamous title as the Poison Rose of Elemoer, no one was brave enough to meet my gaze head-on.
With regal steps, I ascended the stairs lined with red carpet and stopped in front of the door that led to both Philios’s office and his reception room.
— Kyaa, he’s so handsome!
— Oh my, what is this?
From inside came the sound of women laughing, like jade beads rolling on glass.
“Seriously, they’re playing around.”
Soon, the heavy door creaked open, and as I entered, the women who had been sitting tightly next to him on the sofa scrambled to their feet.
They shrank back, their eyes filled with a mix of wariness and fear.
They were minor noble ladies I had seen at the occasional party.
“Ah, my fiancée. Welcome.”
Philios stood and approached me with open arms, trying to embrace me with a beaming smile.
The women who had been with him scurried out through another door, sensing the tension.
“I missed you terribly. My love.”
Disgusting bastard.
I smacked my hand hard against his chest to stop his approach.
His face showed a hint of surprise.
“…Catrin?”
My mouth was tired from cursing Catrin Elemoer, but seeing this guy again just made the anger boil.
Why on earth did she ever choose a man like this?
Would you date me and enjoy the perks, or live the rest of your life as a worthless scarecrow prince?
This was the kind of embarrassing confession Catrin came up with to a guy she liked.
At home, she was arrogant and selfish.
Her only “friends” were maid-like girls who tried to please her out of fear for Elemoer’s power, so she had no one to give her real romantic advice.
Because of that, the man she picked as her second choice—Philios Regalo—was just a pretty face with a noble background, but inside, he was a total womanizer.
He played Catrin like a puppet, manipulating her fiery personality while disguising his flirtatious habits. In that way, he was rather skilled.
“Could it be…”
Philios squinted his eyes, his voice laced with amusement.
“Are you upset because of those women who just left?”
When I didn’t answer, he covered his face with both hands for a moment and let out a joyful laugh.
“Oh, how cute. Catrin. That side of you gives me such creative inspiration.”
He shrugged and pointed at a chair for me to sit in. He sat across from me and crossed his legs confidently.
“But please understand. They’re merely critics of the poetry I’ve written. You know, one needs feedback to create a great masterpiece. My true love is only you.”
…
In Catrin’s memories, every time she caught him flirting with other women, Philios always gave these ridiculous excuses.
Even when she saw him kissing another woman’s cheek, he said the same kind of thing.
“You’re still new to love, so you’ve got a lot to learn. Not that I blame you—your inexperience is just part of what makes you so endearing. It’s how I know this is true love.”
Maybe because it had been a while, but Philios’s tongue felt longer than usual today.
“Anyway, the real reason I called you here today is…”
Go ahead, keep babbling.
“It’s about my art business. Truthfully, I’m in need of some support. Not much—about 100,000 den. If it’s okay with you…”
“I refuse.”
There was no need to hear more.
Now it was time to wrap this up—something I had put off out of pure laziness.
“Also, let’s call off our engagement.”
I said it like I was spitting out gum, so casually that the silence afterward felt heavy.
“Call off… the engagement?”
Philios finally spoke, his pupils trembling violently.
Yes, we’re breaking up.
Why should I remain engaged to such a pathetic man?
I was planning to move to the Principality in a few months anyway, and meeting to clean things up felt too troublesome. But since he clings like a leech, there was no other choice but to bring out the pesticide.
